12 best feminist books for young children and teenagers

From toddlers to teens, we think these are the ideal feminist reads

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Feminism speaks to all ages, so here’s our guide to the best children and teen books for the budding activist in your life, whether they’re just starting on picture books or moving through adolescence.

Best feminist books for young children

Harrison’s delightfully illustrated book retells the biographies of 40 trailblazing black women, including Mary Seacole, Diane Abbott and Sojourner Truth. A lovely accessible work that can be both dipped into and read out loud at night.

The Nobel Prize Laureate winner tells her story for younger readers, beginning with her childhood dreams of a magic pencil to stop time and allow her to sleep in in the morning, continuing through to her growing desire to change the world and ensure her voice could be heard.

Beautifully illustrated by husband and wife team Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset, aka Kerascoet, it’s a lovely way to introduce children to an inspiring tale.

Best feminist books for 8-12 year olds

Effie Kostas is smart, opinionated and determined to change the world – even if it means taking on the smug Aaron Davis when she’s the new girl at school. Wood’s versatile latest novel is a laugh-out-loud account of Effie’s attempts to become Student Council President, which also services as a passionate rallying cry for a switched-on generation.

The writer of the best-selling The Miniaturist turns her hand to children’s books with this feminist retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses.

Burton keeps the bones of the story – 12 princesses who are locked away from the world and find a secret freedom in dancing every night, much to the eventual horror of their father – but fleshes it out to become both a mediation on freedom, imagination and the nature of grief.

Beautifully written and illustrated, this is a real treat to curl up with at night.

£7.99, The O’Brien PressBest for: Bringing the not-so-distant past to life

Out – now

Irish writer Carey’s vivid historical novels follow young Dubliner Mollie Carberry as she joins the battle for women’s suffrage in Ireland. Engaging, well-researched and very funny, it’s the perfect example of how to both entertain and inform.

£15.99, Quercus PublishingBest for: Reminding children that heroes come in all shapes and sizes

Out – now

Ben Brooks and Quinton Winter’s two compendiums are a welcome attempt to remind girls, boys – and their parents – that male role models can come in all shapes and sizes, too.

Sporting heroes are present and correct naturally, but so too are a wide range of lives, from the inspiring, such as Barack Obama, to the heroic peace activist Hans Scholl, and the unexpected viral Star Wars Kid Ghyslain Raza.

Best feminist books for teenagers

£7.99, Simon & Schuster Children’s UKBest for: Teenagers and everyone who wants to know how it feels to be one right now

Out – now

The first novel from the founder of the Everyday Sexism campaign tells the story of teenager Anna, who moves with her mother to a remote part of Scotland in an attempt to escape her past.

From that starting point, Bates tackles everything from social media to the way in which sexual desire is used to shame young women in this well-told story, which looks back to historical witch hunts to draw pertinent parallels with today’s world.

Thomas’s joyous sequel to the best-selling The Hate U Give is both a fast-paced story of teenager Bri’s attempts to become a rap sensation and an acute dissection of the way black girls are objectified and stereotyped by today’s society.

The perfect introduction for any teenager wanting to engage with feminism, this sparky collection features essays from 52 women, including Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan and Jameela Jamil, explaining “what the F-word means to them”.

£18.99, Two HootsBest for: Understanding past battles and why they still matter

Out – now

This beautifully illustrated book is an easily accessible starting point for any teenager or tween wanting to learn more about the history of the women’s suffrage movement.

Featuring potted biographies of everyone from the famous, such as Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett, to the less well-known, including Australian activist Muriel Matters – who hired an airship to fly over London and scatter bills in support of the Women’s Freedom League – alongside clear explanations of the history leading up to the formation of the suffragette movement and beyond.

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